As we close out the year, our team is reflecting on the extraordinary leadership of farmers, fishers, and workers around the world. We’re grateful for our community of supporters, who make our mission possible and support producers as they create critical, impactful change. These five stories capture the heart of Fair Trade by sharing how workers are creating lasting solutions, building stronger futures, and proving what’s possible with Fair Trade Certification.
Yonely Chuquihuanga (left), general manager of Aprocredi coffee cooperative, and Sara Gomez (right)
1. Rebuilding a Life Through Coffee in Peru: Sara Gomez
Sara Gomez’s story began with profound loss. When her husband, Teodoro Quevedo, passed away suddenly, she was left with three teenage children and a coffee plot.
She shares:
“When he died, I was left alone, abandoned the coffee plants, and had to sell food in the streets to survive and feed my children. I knew nothing about coffee. But then, I joined APROCASSI, and my life has changed for the better. With the Fair Trade program’s benefits and training, I have learned to become a successful coffee producer and have gained confidence in myself. I am proud to prove that I can produce coffee successfully, run the women’s committee, raise a family, and run a coffee shop. Now, in life, everything is possible.”
Through Fair Trade’s training and community-led supports, Sara rebuilt her livelihood, stepped into leadership, and opened new paths for her family, a powerful reminder of how empowerment makes impact.
Mrs. Karsinem cooks in an updated kitchen space
2. Healthy Kitchens in Indonesia: Women Creating Safe Spaces
For generations, female coconut sugar producers in Banyumas, Indonesia worked long hours in small, smoky kitchens. They decided to use Fair Trade Community Development Funds to design and build new kitchens that are ventilated, fuel-efficient, smoke-free. These kitchens help protect health and improve working conditions. What began with six kitchens has grown to 354.
Mrs. Kamisah, a coconut sugar producer, shares:
“With our new kitchen, I can work more comfortably. I do not worry about the smoke anymore, and I feel stronger at the end of the day.”
Ardiansyah Kohilay poses by a fishing boat
3. Fishers & Business Owners in Indonesia
On Indonesia’s remote islands, small-scale tuna fishers once faced low margins, limited capital, and few options to sell at fair prices. By implementing Fair Trade Standards and working with local partners, fishers formed associations and used their expertise and industry experience to launch successful tuna trading businesses. They strengthened record-keeping, improved business operations, and built direct partnerships with buyers, keeping more value in their communities.
Ardiansyah Kohilay, Fisher and Group Secretary with the Tunas Beringin Yeholu Fisher Association, reflects:
“Before Fair Trade, us fishers didn’t know much at all about proper fishing practices. With Fair Trade, fishers now know what’s legal to catch and what’s not. Fishermen are getting smarter, and thinking about the future.”
Profits from these cooperatives now support higher wages, upgraded equipment, and new opportunities for growth, a testament to the power of organized, community-led development.
Subroto Mondal smiles as he works on a garment at Rajlakshmi Mills in West Bengal, India.
4. Building a More Secure Future: Subroto Mondal
Subroto Mondal works at the Fair Trade Certified Paridhan garment factory of Rajlakshmi Mills in West Bengal, India. Before joining the Fair Trade factory, he left school after tenth grade to support his family.
Working under Fair Trade standards has helped Subroto secure a reliable income and new opportunities. He shares:
“The impact of Fair Trade funds reach far beyond the factory: each worker has a home village and relatives that in big and small ways truly benefit. My hope is to give my children a better future. Working here in a Fair Trade factory, I believe this is possible.”
Today, Subroto is supporting his children’s education and securing thriving futures for his family.
Ana Maria Cota Recinos, Popti Mayan coffee grower, peels coffee beans in Huehuetenango, Guatemala.
5. Reforesting Guatemala After Wildfire
In 2024, wildfires destroyed 90% of the forest surrounding the Santa María de Jesús Coffee Cooperative in Guatemala’s Volcán de Agua region. The devastation threatened biodiversity, soil health, and producers’ long-term livelihoods.
Through Fair Trade Community Development Funds, farmers planted 3,800 new oak and pine trees, restoring the ecosystem, protecting their farms, and rebuilding promising futures. This project shows the strength of local leadership, and how community investment can ripple outward.
These stories span across continents and industries, but they all share a common thread: real workers making real impact in their communities. This impact is happening at Fair Trade Certified farms, factories, and fisheries around the globe, and your support makes it possible.
Thank you for standing with farmers, fishers, and workers this year. Your dedication fuels future-defining action and impact.
Looking for more ways to support Fair Trade this holiday season? Hear from our team on how your donations scale our work.
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